Introduction

Because I've been the product manager of Adobe Illustrator, people frequently approach me who, prior to attending a demo or workshop on Illustrator, either thought they had no need for the program or were under the impression that it is only used for designing logos.

The truth is, Illustrator is essential to a broad range of professionals and hobbyists, and it has an incredible number of usesso many that it's hard to define exactly what Illustrator does. Features like transparency, 3D, Live Trace, Live Paint, gradient mesh, Live Effects, professional typography, Flash animation, and SVG support have all redefined how people use Illustrator every day. It's certainly not the same program that it was ten years ago.

My goal with this book is three-fold: to teach new users how to take advantage of the technology, to help experienced users learn about things that have changed, and to give power users the understanding they need to push the envelope and produce reliable files. I love showing people all the cool and productive things you can do with the product, and nothing makes me happier than seeing a designer crank out a totally awesome design using Illustrator. Throughout this book, I share my thoughts, experiences, and knowledge about Illustrator so that you can have fun with it, sharpen your skills, and make it work for you.